This week, Elstree Screen Heritage allowed Channel Four to shoot some scenes at Elstree Studios for a new series about restoring famous cars.

The studios’ managing director Roger Morris kindly gave permission and I caught up with the crew lunching at the Mops and Brooms.

I was introduced to actor Philip Glennister, who is hosting the programme and I believe starred in a television series called Return To Mars, which sadly I have not seen.

He seemed a nice chap and it was also good to meet my old mate Johnny Goodman, who was production supervisor on such series as The Saint, The Persuaders and Minder.

The new programme is about the successful restoration of the iconic white 1960s Volvo that appeared in the first episode of The Saint series shot at Elstree Studios in 1962.

The series ran until 1969 and cemented the stardom of Roger Moore.

Back in 2006, I hosted a special reunion of The Saint crew at Elstree Studios and we unveiled a plaque in honour of Sir Roger in his presence.

To decorate the studio entrance I borrowed a white 1960s Volvo and another similar car that had the stick man used in the series credits etched on the bonnet, which Sir Roger signed.

For Sir Roger it was his first return to Elstree Studios in about 35 years and he came with his wife and daughter. I still remember how moved he was by the occasion, particularly when the Borehamwood Com.unity Choir sang a specially reworded version of Nobody Does It Better to him.

I really enjoyed hosting those plaque unveilings over a period of 12 years, bringing back such a wide range of names to the studios from John Mills and Olivia de Havilland to Cliff Richard and Simon Cowell.

Believe me, they were done on a shoestring budget, usually requiring the recipient and guest unveiler to drive themselves to the studios, let alone having any silly appearance fee from any of the attending celebrity guests, whom I insisted we would never pay.

I still remember Sir Tim Rice struggling to get into his sports car via the passenger seat as somebody had parked too close to the other side. He just laughed and said to me: “You know how to treat your guests.”

Sir Tim still tells me he would be happy to unveil a plaque honouring Terry Thomas anytime, so that is one event for the town council or the studios to arrange.

Finally, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of MGM buying a studio in Elstree Way we had a walkabout of what is now the Studio Estate off Elstree Way.

Sixty people joined the organisers of the MGM British Studios facebook site and the mayor to walk around the former backlot.

We were accompanied by a chap from Countryside Management, which is planning a heritage trail around the footpaths of the estate, and it was great fun.